Hand-stamp



HAND STAMP.

Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

(No Model.) E. W..LEHMAN.

E S S E N H W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC EDWIN w. LEHMAN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE- I-IALF'TO DAVID o. WALKER, or EDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY.

HAN D-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,860, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed January 11, 1888. Serial No. 260,414. (No model.)

To all whwn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN W. LEHMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hand-Stamps, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a hand-stamp having novel means for locking or holding the type in position and admitting of the removal of the same without necessarily removing the handle.

It also consists of improvements in the means for connecting and supporting the handle of the stamp.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a hand-stamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section thereof. on line x 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a detached portion. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of type embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the head of a hand-stamp, which in the present case is designed for post-oiiice purposes, to

which, however, I do not limit my invention. The head A consists of a plate of metal with an opening, 1, for the type, the back of one side of which having a lip, 2, the opposite side being recessed, forming shoulders 3.

B represents a Washer which is placed on the back of the head A, and having a lip, 4, which partly engages with the shoulders 3 and partly projects into the space of the opening 1, it now being seen that the lips 2 and 4 are opposite to each other. In the washer B is an elongated opening or slot, 5, through which passes the pin or screw 6, one end of which is secured to the head A, and the other end enters the collar 7, the latter having secured to it a stem, 8, which is of less diameter than the collar 7, so as to form at what may be termed the base of the stem a shoulder, 9.

Encircling the stem is a handle, 10, of soft rubber or other elastic or flexible material, said handle continuing beyond said stem, whereby its end readily yields, and is easy to the hand, while the portion around the stem is distended and somewhat compact, thus imparting stability to the handle where it is subjected to severe strain, the shoulder 9 also sustaining the handle and preventing the same from being stripped therefrom during the stamping operation.

The type have dovetailed or inclined sides, (see Fig. 1,) and are inserted in the opening 1 of the head A and rested on the back thereof, their sides being held by the lips 2 and 4, said washer and head being clamped together by the action of the screw 6, and prevented from lateral shifting, owing to the recess 11 in the washer, the collar 7 being 6.5 seated therein.

The operation is as follows: The handle is partly or slightly unscrewed, so that the washer is free to be moved laterally out ward 1y, whereby the lip 4 leaves the shoulders 3, so that the type may be inserted in the opening 1. When the latter is accomplished, the washer is moved upwardly, or toward the shoulders 3, whereby the lip 4 closes against the contiguous sides of the type and forces the opposite side of the latter against the lip 2 of the head A, the lips and type thus forming dovetailed joints. During this application and adjustment of the type the washer and head are prevented from separation, ow- 8o ing to the dovetailed or looking nature of the joint of the shoulder 3 and lip 4. The handle 7 is now screwed toward the washer, and the latter thus clamped to the head and prevented from shifting, the type thereby being firmly held in position. When the type are to be removed for change of date or other purpose, the handle is sufficiently unscrewed to release the washer, and the latter is then moved out wardly, whereby the lip 4 leaves the type, and 9c the latter now being no longer held or controlled by the opposite lips, 2 4, are free to be withdrawn from the head or drop from the same. Other type may be now applied and set, after which the washer is restored to its operative position and the handle screwed tight against the washer, so that the type are held as hereinbefore stated. For type to be placed side by side, as in Fig. 4, the contiguous sides are right-angular to the back, as at 12, the outer sides being inclined or tapering, so as to interlock with the head and washer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hand-stamp having a head with an opening to receive type and a lip to engage with one side thereof, and a laterally-movable washer having a lip adapted for engagement with the opposite sideof the type, substantially as described.

2. A hand-stamp having a head with a shoulder and a lip at one side thereof, and a sliding washer with an elongated opening and lip, which is opposite to the lip of the head and engages with the shoulder thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a hand-stamp, a collar receiving the pin or screw of the head, and a stem connected with said collar, forming a shoulder at the base thereof, in combination with a rubber handle partly encircling said stem and resting against said shoulder, the remaining portion of the handle being clear of the stem, substantially as described.

4. In a hand-stamp, the combination of the head A, with opening 1, having the lip 2 at one side thereof, and the shoulder 3, the washer B, with lip 4, extending below said shoulder, and type with inclined sides embraced by said lips 2 and 4, and right-angular adjacent sides, substantially as described.

EDlVIN WV. LEHMAN.

\Vitnesscs:

JOHN A. WIEDERsI-IEIM, JAMES F. KELLEY. 

